“We don’t understand why they gave them the opportunity to go to the election, we understand the democracy of Ukraine but this kind of partiy ought to be out of parliament,” explained Alex Miller head of inter-parliamentary Ukrainian-Israeli committee.

Oleh Tyahnybok was expelled from the centre right Our Ukrainian party eight years ago. In a speech he referred to Jews as being among the enemies of Ukraine.

He now heads Svoboda but rejects the allegation his party is anti-Semitic.

…

Tayhnabok and his party has forged links with other political groups including that of Yulia Tymoshenko and could be set to be part of a coalition in the forthcoming legislation.

Fearing violence against Ukraine’s Jews, the Jewish community asks Israel for assistance with the security of the community.

Published 12:44 22.02.14

Ukraine’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, called on Kiev’s Jews to leave the city and even the country if possible, fearing that the city’s Jews will be victimized in the chaos, Israeli daily Maariv reported Friday.

“I told my congregation to leave the city center or the city all together and if possible the country too,” Rabbi Azman told Maariv. “I don’t want to tempt fate,” he added, “but there are constant warnings concerning intentions to attack Jewish institutions.”

According to the paper’s report Azman closed the Jewish community’s schools but still holds three daily prayers. He said the Israeli embassy told members of the Jewish community to avoid leaving their homes.

Edward Dolinsky, head of the umbrella organization of Ukraine’s Jews described the situation in Kiev as dire, telling Maariv: “We contacted Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman requesting he assist us with securing the community.”

Protesters in the Ukrainian capital claimed full control of the city Saturday following the signing of a Western-brokered peace deal aimed at ending the nation’s three-month political crisis.

President Viktor Yanukovich is still in Ukraine, a senior security source told Reuters on Saturday following reports his residence was empty and unguarded and his Kiev offices were in the hands of protesters.

The US has vowed to investigate anti-semitic leaflets which ordered Jews to register with pro-Russian authorities in eastern Ukraine, even after it emerged that Jewish residents were not being forced to do so and the alleged authors denied any association with them: here.

25 thoughts on “Ukrainian Jews threatened by anti-Semitic violence”

This is horrible news indeed. There are reports of the neo-fascist Svoboda party shouting: Hit the kikes! at demonstrations. Some of the responsibility for the horrors of now lie not only with the Svoboda fasiscts; but also with, at least officially, non-anti-Semitic Ukraine opposition politicians allying with Svoboda; and with US and European governments supporting the opposition while failing to see anti-Semitism.